News from National Voices

7 May 2010
HSJ: Patient groups call for urgent government action...

5 May, 2010 | By Dave West

The umbrella patient group National Voices has acknowledged significant and controversial changes, including hospital closure, will "sometimes be the right outcome".

But chief executive Jeremy Taylor urged caution when changing consultation rules: "Fast tracking is great if it cuts out bureaucracy and allows changes to be brought forward which will benefit patients."

But he added: "It is also a recipe for eroding public confidence if it allows vested interests to get their way with minimum scrutiny."

"Social care could get worse before it gets better" - National Voices' press release
(31/03/10)

"Giving a cautious welcome to the government’s reforms, National Voices has praised the vision of a more equitable system but questioned the timescale. The long term aim is to create certainty about entitlements and make essential care free at the point of use. But this will be a long time coming and in the meantime there will be further confusion, unfairness and possible real terms cuts in social care funding."